Game apparatus.



W. ZEPP.

GAME APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 3, 1915.

Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

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UFFlWE.

WILLIAM ZEPP, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

GAME nrranarusf Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Uct. 26, 1915.

Application filed April 3, 1915. Serial No. 18,921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM ZEPP, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, Kings county, inthe State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Game Apparatus, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exactspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in game apparatus, and the same hasfor its object more particularly to provide a portable apparatus whichis simple, compact in form, conveniently portable, and easy to operate.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide a game apparatuscomprising a support, a plurality of spaced partly revoluble buffers,a'series of objects to be struck loosely disposed upon the base, and atrayeling, rotating striker for overturning said objects.

Further, said invention has for its ob ect to provide an apparatushaving a plurality of bufier members each of which comprises a fixedsupport, a member adapted to rotate partly thereon, and meansforlimiting the rotation of said revoluble member in either directionwhen the same is struck by the traveling striker.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatus inwhich the rotating striker is adapted to be deflected in an uncertainmanner into contact with the buffers so as to cause said striker to bedeflected in a plurality of different directions as said strikersuccessively contacts with any certain buffer.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects I to and ends, my inventionconsists in the novel details of construction, and in the combination,connection and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described,and then pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification whereinlike numerals of reference indicate like parts,- Figure 1 is a plan ortop view showing one form of apparatus-constructed according to andembodying my said invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken on theline 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail vertical section showingthe rotating striker, and the means for supporting and operating thesame; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail side View partly broken away and insection showing the construction of the bufl'ers, and Fig. 5 is a detailplan or top View thereof.

In said drawings 10 designates the apparatus as a whole comprising abase or table 11, preferably mounted upon legs 12, 12. From the edges ofthe base 11 extend upwardly wall members 13, 13, and 14 denotes a coverhaving a rim 15 upon its underside adapted to engage with the innersides of the wall members 13 adjacent to the upper ed es thereof.

djacent to each of the corners of the base 11 are provided two buffers16, 16 which are arranged side by side, and on a line at an angle ofabout 15 degrees to the side walls 13 of the base or table 11. Each ofsaid bufi'ers comprises a stationary vertical support or rod 17 having ascrew-threaded lower end 18 adapted to be secured in the base 11, and anupper reduced portion 19 which is screw-threaded. Upon the upper end ofthe support 17, and surrounding the threaded end 19 thereof, is disposeda washer 20 which is secured against the shoulder formed at the upperend of the support 17 by a ball or head 21 having an opening thereinprovided with screw threads adapted to engage with the screw threadsupon the reduced end 19 of the support 17.

22 denotes a revoluble cylindrical member,

preferably made of wood or other suitable material, having an openingextending longitudinally therethrough of such width that the said member22 may be slipped over the supports 17 and be capable of rotationthereon. At the lower end of the tubular member 22 is provided a plate23 which is secured to the underside of said tubular member 22 by screws24. From one side of 31, 31 respectively of the rotating striker 28. i

32 denotes a string having one end secured to a handle portion 38, andits other end adapted to be wound upon the lower end of the rotatingstriker 28. The free end of the string 32 is adapted to be passedthrough the opening or cut-out portion provided in the front wall 13.

I At about the center of the base 11 are provided suitable indicatingmarks upon which are loosely disposed pins or other objects to be upset.

To operate the device it merely becomes necessary to insert the rotatingstriker 28 in place at the front wall of the base 11, and after havingset the same in rotation by means of the string and handle 33 the saidrotating striker will be caused to travel inwardly from the edge of thefront wall 13, and in the course of its movement strike against certainof the bufi'ers 16 As the annular elastic bufier 29 of the striker 28contacts with the movable members 22 of said buffers 16 it will causethe said members 22 to be rotated partially, and until one end of thesegmental slot 26 in its plate 25 is caused to approach or toengage withthe pin or stud 27 when its further movement will be arrested. As soonas this occurs the rotating striker will be deflected away from thebufier and proceed along its path of travel until it meets one of thepins 35 or until it meets another of the buffers 16, and is furtherdeflected.

It is to be noted particularly that by rea son of the partially rotatingnature of the buffers 16, the rotating striker 28 will, as

. it contacts with the revoluble members 22 of said buffers, cause saidmembers22 to rotate more or less each time the same is struck by therotating striker. In this way one or the other ends of the segmentalslot 26 in the plate 25 will be brought nearer to the pin 27. In thisway the succeeding rotation which may be imparted to the member 22, whenthe same is struck by the travcling striker a second time will be moreor less limited. The rotating striker will thus be deflected from eachbufler in a' somewhat different direction with each successive impactwith any one of the said bufiers.

Having thus described my said invention,

7 what I' claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A gameapparatus comprising a base, a plurality of objects to be struck looselydisposed thereon, rotatable buffers mounted upon said base in fixedrelation to each other, and a striker adapted to engage said buffers andpartially rotate the same, and to contact with said objects to upset thesame, substantially as specified.

2. A gameapparatus comprising a base, a plurality ofobjects' to bestruck loosely disposedthereon, buffers mounted upon said base in fixedrelation to each other, and arto contact with said objects to upset thesame, substantially as specified.

, 3. A game apparatus comprising a base, a plurality of objects looselydisposed thereon, bufi'ers arranged in fixed relation upon said base;said buflei's each comprising a fixed support and a member looselymountedthereon, and a movable striker adapted to engage said bufiers tobe deflected thereby, and to contact with said objects to upset thesame, substantially as specified.

4:- A game apparatus comprising a base, a plurality of objects looselydisposed thereon, bufiers arranged in fixed relation upon said base;said buifers each comprising a fixed support, a member mounted to rotatethereon, and means for limiting the extent of rotation of the membermounted upon said support, and a rotating striker adapted to engage withthe rotating member on said support, and to contact with said ob jects,substantially as specified.

5. A game apparatus comprising a base, a plurality of objects to bestruck loosely disposed thereon, bufiiers arranged in fixed relationupon said base; said buflers each comprising a fixed support, a tubularmember mounted to rotate thereon, a plate extending outwardly from saidrevoluble member and provided with a segmental slot, a stop extendingthrough said slot and into said base for limiting the extent of rotationof said revoluble member, and a striker adapted to be projected acrosssaid base into engagement with the revoluble members on said bufi'ers,and to contact with said objects, substantially as specified.

6. A game apparatus comprising a base, wall members extending upwardlyfrom the edges thereof, a plurality of objects to be struck looselydisposed upon said support, buffers arranged upon said base; said buf--tfers each comprising a fixed support, a tuand fifteen.

WILLIAM ZEPP.

rotate thereon, a

Witnesses:

CONRAD A. DIETERICH, J osErH G. QUINN, Jr.

floples'of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

7 f WashingtomILG."

